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Beyond the Binder: Building HCID Readiness Through Interactive Education, Drills, Rounding, Real-World Practice, and Frontline Engagement
Wednesday, February 24, 2027 | 10:00 - 10:50am
Preparing ambulatory healthcare teams to respond to a High Consequence Infectious Disease (HCID) event requires more than policies and procedures. This presentation shares how Wellstar Medical Group developed a comprehensive HCID preparedness program that combines interactive provider education, staff training, leadership rounding, bucket drills, scripting tools, and readiness assessments to strengthen frontline response capabilities across a large ambulatory network. Participants will learn how emergency preparedness, infection prevention, operational leaders, and frontline teams collaborated to create a sustainable approach to HCID readiness that reinforces the principles of Identify, Isolate, Inform, and Escalate. The session will highlight practical strategies for engaging staff, validating operational readiness, identifying gaps, and creating a culture of preparedness through hands-on learning and continuous improvement. Attendees will leave with actionable tools and ideas that can be adapted within their own organizations to enhance infectious disease preparedness and response.
Jane Wade, RMA, BSHS, EMI-PDS
Emergency Preparedness Manager, Wellstar Health System
With 30 years of experience in healthcare, Jane Wade has been a pivotal figure in coordinating and managing patient and staff safety initiatives. Her expertise spans site assessments, training, standardization, and process improvement. Jane oversees the Emergency Preparedness, Workplace violence, and EOC programs for all 400 + Wellstar Medical Group sites and five Health Parks. Over the past six years, she has focused on enhancing Wellstar Medical Group's Emergency Preparedness, Safety, and Quality.
Jane graduated from Kennesaw State University in 2011 with a Bachelor of Science in Human Services, concentrating in case management. Since 2017, she has also been an instructor for Community and Professional Education - Healthcare at KSU.
From Plan to Practice: Creating an Operational COOP Program
Wednesday, February 24, 2027 | 10:00 - 10:50am
A Continuity of Operations Plan (COOP) is only valuable if it can be put into action when it matters most. This session explores how our organization built an integrated continuity program that goes beyond a standalone plan by aligning key preparedness tools into a functional operational framework. Attendees will learn how our COOP is structured and how it incorporates a 96-hour sustainability plan, a Business Impact Analysis (BIA) Mountain Range, departmental BIAs, and a downtime playbook to support operational decision-making before, during, and after disruptive events. We will also share how these tools have been implemented during exercises and real-world incidents, highlighting practical lessons learned, successes, and opportunities for continuous improvement. Participants will leave with ideas and strategies for developing a continuity program that is actionable, scalable, and ready to support healthcare operations when normal business is disrupted.
Emma Paras, MPH, CEM
Director, Emergency Management and Business Continuity, Denver Health and Hospital Authority
Emma Paras is the Director of Emergency Management and Business Continuity at Denver Health and Hospital Authority. She holds an Associate’s Degree in Emergency Medical Services and Bachelors of Science in Emergency Management and Homeland Security from the University of Akron, as well as a Master’s in Public Health from Emory University. She has spent the last decade fostering a passion and enthusiasm for hazard mitigation, emergency preparedness, and incident management in the healthcare setting.
The Quiet Death of Hospital Decontamination Programs: Rebuilding Capability Before the Next Unknown Substance Event
Wednesday, February 24, 2027 | 10:00 - 10:50am
Most hospitals maintain some level of hazardous materials decontamination capability, but many programs have quietly deteriorated over time. Equipment ages, training lapses, staffing changes occur, and capabilities that once existed become increasingly difficult to sustain. While plans and policies may remain in place, true operational readiness often does not. This session examines the factors that contribute to the decline of hospital decontamination programs and provides practical strategies for rebuilding sustainable capability. Topics include infrastructure assessment, equipment and PPE considerations, staffing models, training and sustainment programs, and integration with fire service and EMS partners. Participants will explore lessons learned from healthcare organizations working to restore and modernize decontamination programs and will leave with practical tools to assess their own capabilities before the next unknown substance event occurs. Attendees will gain an appreciation that decontamination capability is not a room, trailer, or shower system; it is a program requiring people, equipment, training, and long-term sustainment.
Arthur B. Ditzel, Jr., MCP, EMT-P
System Director, Emergency Management and EMS Outreach, Westchester Medical Center Health Network (WMCHealth)
Arthur B. Ditzel, Jr. began his career in 1992 in the New Jersey suburbs of New York City as a volunteer EMT and Firefighter. He attended Paramedic School at St. Vincent’s Hospital in New York City in 1999 and went on to serve as a paramedic in the New York City 911 system for hospital-based EMS services, as well as a Critical Care Paramedic at NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital, specializing in pediatric and neonatal transport. He later advanced into healthcare emergency management leadership, serving in multiple senior roles within Security & Emergency Management at NewYork-Presbyterian, overseeing emergency management operations, preparedness education, and enterprise-wide readiness across a large academic healthcare system.
Mr. Ditzel currently serves as System Director of Emergency Management & EMS Outreach for the Western Region at Westchester Medical Center Health Network, where he provides strategic leadership for emergency preparedness, response, recovery, exercises, and regional EMS integration across multiple hospitals and service lines. His work focuses on strengthening organizational resilience, regulatory compliance, continuity of care, and coordination with public safety and healthcare partners.
Mr. Ditzel has studied at numerous institutions with concentrations in Emergency Management, Fire/Rescue, Emergency Medical Services, and Hazardous Materials. He is a FEMA-certified instructor in multiple disciplines, an NFPA Fire Service Instructor I (Pro Board certified), and an Incident Management Level III Specialist certified by the New Jersey Division of Fire Safety. He holds the certification of Master Continuity Practitioner from FEMA. He also serves as a contract instructor at FEMA’s Center for Domestic Preparedness in Anniston, Alabama.
He holds certifications as a Firefighter II, Paramedic (NY, NJ – inactive & CT), and an Advanced Hazardous Materials Technician (NY). Mr. Ditzel resides in New Jersey with his wife and children and continues to volunteer his time as a Life Member and Association Trustee with the Tenafly Fire Department.
Medical Response and Surge Exercises at Scale: Lessons Learned from Planning and Executing a Statewide Healthcare Coalition Exercise
Wednesday, February 24, 2027 | 11:00 - 11:50am
Medical surge incidents require healthcare organizations and response partners to rapidly coordinate staffing, patient movement, resource allocation, and operational decision-making. This session shares lessons learned from planning, conducting, and evaluating regional and statewide Medical Response and Surge Exercises (MRSE) involving hospitals, long-term care facilities, public health agencies, emergency management partners, EMS providers, and healthcare coalition members. Attendees will explore practical strategies for designing large-scale healthcare exercises, building multi-sector participation, evaluating medical surge capabilities, collecting meaningful performance data, and translating exercise findings into preparedness improvements. Real-world examples will highlight successes, challenges, and improvement opportunities related to communications, staffing, transportation, resource coordination, patient movement, and healthcare system resilience. Participants will leave with actionable approaches for strengthening exercise programs, improving healthcare response coordination, and using exercise data to support ongoing preparedness planning and capability development.
Amy Di Miceli, MPH
Southern Region and Statewide Planning Manager, Arizona Coalition for Healthcare Emergency Response
Amy Di Miceli is the Southern Region and Statewide Planning Manager for the Arizona Coalition for Healthcare Emergency Response (AzCHER). She leads statewide healthcare preparedness planning initiatives, healthcare coalition coordination efforts, exercise programs, hazard vulnerability assessment modernization projects, and healthcare readiness initiatives designed to strengthen healthcare system resilience across Arizona. Amy works closely with hospitals, long-term care facilities, behavioral health providers, emergency medical services, public health agencies, emergency management organizations, and other healthcare stakeholders to improve preparedness, response, and recovery capabilities. Her professional interests include healthcare coalition capability development, exercise design and evaluation, medical surge preparedness, continuity planning, emergency operations planning, and improvement planning.
Ride-Out Ready: Staffing Tools for Operational Resilience
Wednesday, February 24, 2027 | 11:00 - 11:50am
Successful ride-out operations require more than a roster of names. They depend on strategic staffing decisions, efficient space utilization, and real-time personnel tracking. This session highlights UT MD Anderson's integrated approach to ride-out planning through the use of department staffing models, sleeping plans, and the Institutional Personnel Manager for Events (IPME). Participants will learn how staffing models establish essential personnel requirements, how sleeping plans support team sustainability and security during extended events, and how IPME serves as a centralized platform for managing ride-out assignments, accommodations, and personnel accountability. Together, these tools provide leaders with increased visibility, standardized planning processes, and real-time operational awareness before and during hurricane response and other prolonged incidents. Attendees will gain practical strategies for improving ride-out readiness, streamlining coordination across departments, and supporting Incident Command decision-making during high-consequence events.
Angela Cone, MBA, CHPCP, CCRP, CRMP
Manager, Institutional Resilience, UT MD Anderson
Angela Cone is an experienced healthcare leader and Certified Healthcare Provider Continuity Professional and Certified Cyber Resilience Professional with a strong background in clinical operations, business continuity, and emergency preparedness. She currently serves as the manager of Institutional Resilience at UT MD Anderson, where she supports patient safety and continuity of care through the development, coordination, and execution of emergency response strategies across the institution.
Angela’s work spans utility and IT downtime planning, infrastructure risk mitigation, and functional exercises for clinical operations. She has played a key role in institutional responses to major events such as COVID-19 and extreme weather emergencies, often leading virtual command centers and cross-functional planning teams. Her career includes leadership roles in hospital operations, overnight clinical services, and graduate medical education, where she has driven process improvement, interdepartmental collaboration, and staff development.
Angela holds a Master of Business Administration from Texas Woman’s University and a Bachelor of Science from The University of Texas at Austin. She is trained in Clinical Safety & Effectiveness and is a Six Sigma Yellow Belt, as well as nationally certified in continuity planning for healthcare systems. She has been a featured speaker at national conferences including AHEPP, the Preparedness Summit, and The Joint Commission Resources Emergency Preparedness Conference. With a practical, operations-driven mindset and a passion for readiness, Angela brings over 18 years of experience in aligning emergency preparedness with patient care excellence in high-pressure healthcare environments.
Moving Beyond Traditional ICS: Advancing Hospital Incident Command Through Engaged Leadership and Organizational Commitment
Wednesday, February 24, 2027 | 11:00 - 11:50am
While the Incident Command System (ICS) provides a standardized framework for emergency response across community and public safety agencies, hospital operations require a more nuanced approach. Community-based ICS structures are designed to manage broad population impacts and resource coordination. In contrast, hospital incident command must address complex clinical needs, patient acuity, regulatory requirements, continuity of care, and specialized resource allocation. As a result, healthcare organizations often struggle to translate community response models into operationally effective healthcare emergency management programs. This presentation explores the critical differences between community-based ICS planning and hospital incident command structures, emphasizing why care environments require tailored command, control, and decision-making processes. Attendees will examine how parallel or integrated command structures can improve situational awareness, patient safety, resource management, and operational continuity during emergencies. The session will also highlight the essential role of executive sponsorship and engagement in driving organizational buy-in, securing resources, prioritizing training and exercises, and fostering a culture of preparedness. Through practical examples and lessons learned, participants will gain strategies for bridging the gap between community emergency management planning and healthcare-specific response capabilities.
Michele Tanton, MSSSEM, CHEP
Emergency Preparedness Manager, St. Louis Children's Hospital
Michele Tanton is a dedicated leader in the field of emergency management and safety, currently serving as the Emergency Preparedness Manager at St. Louis Children’s Hospital. She excels in strategic foresight, analytical reasoning, and the implementation of innovative systems and processes that enhance organizational safety.
Michele holds a Master of Science in Safety, Security, and Emergency Management from Eastern Kentucky University and a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration from Columbia College. Her professional certifications include Certified Healthcare Emergency Professional (CHEP) and she is also a Stop the Bleed™ Instructor. Throughout her career, she has been recognized as a leader of several initiatives, including the development of advanced emergency notification and visitor management systems, as well as chairing both statewide and organizational emergency preparedness teams. Michele's extensive experience and proactive approach have made her a valued team member at St. Louis Children's Hospital in advancing safety and preparedness in healthcare settings.
Rapid Clinical Resources and Considerations during Healthcare Supply Shortages
Wednesday, February 24, 2027 | 2:45 - 3:35pm
Healthcare systems often face shortages of medications, personal protective equipment, and other critical supplies. While emergency managers are used to planning for surge, evacuation, infectious diseases, and mass casualty incidents, recent events have shown that supply chain disruptions can have an equal impact on patient care. These shortages can develop quickly during disasters or public health emergencies, leaving healthcare organizations to make difficult operational and clinical decisions about how to conserve and allocate scarce resources before clear guidance is available. To address this gap, ASPR TRACIE developed Clinical Resources for Emergency Shortages of Treatments and Supplies (CRESTS), an initiative designed to provide rapid access to subject matter expert-vetted considerations, conservation strategies, and shortage-specific resources during significant healthcare supply disruptions. CRESTS serves as a central hub for healthcare professionals seeking timely information while waiting for more comprehensive guidance to be developed by specialty societies and other organizations. Speakers will introduce attendees to the CRESTS Medical Product Shortage Framework; explain how shortages are assessed and activated through the CRESTS process; how subject matter experts are engaged to gather practical considerations; and how those resources can support hospitals, healthcare coalitions, public health agencies, emergency management programs, supply chain professionals, and other preparedness partners.
Rachel Lehman
Acting Director, HHS ASPR TRACIE
John Hick, MD
Hennepin Healthcare; University of Minnesota Medical School
Rachel Lehman
Rachel Lehman is the Acting Director of the Administration for Strategic Preparedness and Response’s (ASPR) Technical Resources, Assistance Center, and Information Exchange (TRACIE) Program. ASPR TRACIE is a healthcare emergency preparedness information gateway that serves the informational and technical assistance needs of those working in disaster medicine and health care preparedness. In her role as Acting Director, she oversees the day-to-day operations of program, provides guidance on emerging issues and gaps/challenges, and acts as a liaison for the program. Previously Rachel was an analyst in ASPRs Office of Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Protection where she held multiple roles including leading communications, helping manage the Healthcare and Public Health Sector Partnership, and working on all-hazards risk assessment for healthcare facilities. Prior to joining ASPR, she supported the U.S. Environmental Protection Agencies Office of Research and Development working on chemical risk assessment.
John Hick, MD
Dr. Hick is a faculty emergency physician at Hennepin Healthcare and a Professor of Emergency Medicine at the University of Minnesota Medical School. He serves as the Associate Medical Director for Hennepin County Emergency Medical Services and Medical Director for Emergency Preparedness at Hennepin Healthcare. He served the Minnesota Department of Health as the Medical Director for the Office of Emergency Preparedness and from 2002-2014. He currently serves as the Senior Editor for ASPR’s Technical Resources, Assistance Center, and Information Exchange and Advisor to the Office of Health Care Readiness. He is an expert on hospital preparedness and crisis medical care issues and has published over 100 peer-reviewed papers dealing with hospital preparedness for contaminated casualties, disaster standards of care, and surge capacity.
Lights, Camera, Action! How harnessing the video medium can enhance your Hospital Emergency Management Program
Wednesday, February 24, 2027 | 2:45 - 3:35pm
Are you stuck with power-point presentations and newsletters as your primary information delivery system and struggling with engagement? This session highlights how utilizing social media and marketing principles, through incorporating short-form videos, can help make emergency management content more engaging, easier to understand, and more memorable across diverse groups. Rather than relying on static slides or long email chains, attendees will see how well-designed multimedia content can create a more dynamic learning experience that supports knowledge transfer, reflection, and confidence-building. Participants will leave with practical ideas for how they may incorporate new tools using video and animation to elevate their program's reach and add another tool to your kit.
Andrew Moull, MA, MDEM, HcEM-M
Manager, Emergency & Disaster Management, Hamilton Health Sciences
Andrew Moull, MA, MDEM, HcEM-M
Andrew is Manager of Emergency and Disaster Management at Hamilton Health Sciences, where he leads emergency preparedness and response across one of Ontario's largest and most complex healthcare systems. With more than a decade of experience in healthcare emergency management, he brings both operational depth and strategic vision to the field.
Andrew is deeply invested in shaping the next generation of practitioners. He has served as co-course director of the Healthcare and Emergency Management course in York University's Disaster and Emergency Management graduate program since 2019, and contributed as a subject matter expert in the development of Conestoga College's Emergency Management Bachelor degree program.
A recognized leader in his field, Andrew was the first person in Canada to achieve the Certified Healthcare Emergency Manager, Mastery Level designation. He holds two Master's degrees — in History from the University of Waterloo and in Disaster and Emergency Management from York University.
Andrew is passionate about building resilient healthcare systems and the role of professional networks in driving innovation and excellence across the emergency management community.
Beyond Hospital Walls: Emergency Preparedness for Home Hospital Programs
Wednesday, February 24, 2027 | 2:45 - 3:35pm
Emergency preparedness in home-based acute care looks very different from traditional hospital settings. Home Hospital programs deliver hospital-level care to eligible patients in their homes, creating unique challenges for emergency planning and response. As healthcare continues to expand beyond hospital walls, organizations must be prepared to maintain safe, reliable care during severe weather events, infrastructure disruptions, technology outages, and other operational challenges. Using the Mass General Brigham Home Hospital program as a real-world example, this session will explore how emergency preparedness and operational leaders plan for and respond to disruptions while maintaining continuity of care in a decentralized environment. Attendees will gain practical insights into identifying operational vulnerabilities, establishing escalation pathways, coordinating with key partners, and leveraging health system resources to support resilient care delivery. Whether participants currently operate a Home Hospital program or are exploring other home-based or community-based care models, they will leave with adaptable frameworks and actionable strategies to strengthen emergency preparedness, improve continuity of operations, and enhance patient safety during actual or potential disruptions. The lessons presented are broadly applicable to organizations seeking to build reliable, scalable models of care outside traditional healthcare facilities.
Eilish Nebbia
Emergency Preparedness Program Manager, Mass General Brigham Healthcare at Home
Eilish Nebbia currently serves as the Emergency Preparedness Program Manager for Mass General Brigham's Healthcare at Home, a role held since January 2025. In this capacity, she leads the development and implementation of emergency preparedness strategies for Home Hospital and other home-based care programs within the system. Her work focuses on building and operationalizing a comprehensive emergency preparedness framework, covering essential protocols like severe weather actions and downtime procedures for both Homecare and Home Hospital. She also serves as a resource to interdisciplinary partners across the system, supporting coordinated responses to real-time incidents such as severe weather, digital issues, and other systemic challenges.
Advancing Incident Command for Healthcare: A Functional Area Model Aligned with HICS Principles
Wednesday, February 24, 2027 | 3:40 - 4:30pm
As healthcare organizations face increasingly complex threats—from cyberattacks and infrastructure failures to pandemics and operational disruptions—traditional incident command structures can be challenging to implement effectively. This presentation introduces the HCA Functional Area Incident Command Model, an innovative approach that aligns emergency response responsibilities with leaders’ day-to-day operational expertise. Attendees will learn how this functional framework enhances role clarity, accelerates decision-making, improves situational awareness, and strengthens organizational resilience while maintaining alignment with core Hospital Incident Command System (HICS) and Incident Command System (ICS) principles.
Holly Matthews, MSN, APRN, FNP-C
Manager Clinical Continuity, HCA Healthcare
Sara Greene, DNP, APRN
Director of Emergency Management, Enterprise Emergency Operations, HCA Healthcare
Holly Matthews, MSN, APRN, FNP-C
Holly Matthews, MSN, APRN, FNP-C, is a board-certified Family Nurse Practitioner and healthcare leader with more than 20 years of experience in emergency services, nursing, advanced practice, and emergency management. Her career reflects a commitment to supporting patients, healthcare teams, and communities during both routine operations and complex emergencies.
Holly currently serves as Manager of Clinical Continuity for HCA Healthcare, where she partners with nurses, providers, and operational leaders across the enterprise to ensure safe patient care can continue during disasters, technology outages, and other disruptive events. Prior to joining the Enterprise Emergency Operations Group in 2025, she spent 14 years with HCA Healthcare, advancing from Emergency Department clerk to technician, registered nurse, and Family Nurse Practitioner while simultaneously building expertise in emergency management.
Holly is a member of the HCA Emergency Response Team (ERT), supporting disaster response and recovery efforts nationwide, including hurricanes, operational disruptions, and large-scale downtime events. A former firefighter and EMT specializing in wildland firefighting and rescue, she brings extensive emergency preparedness experience to healthcare resilience. Holly serves on the Executive Committee of the Utah Disaster Advisory Committee and holds a Master of Science in Nursing, Family Nurse Practitioner degree from Western Governors University.
Sara Greene, DNP, APRN
Dr. Sara Greene serves as the Director of Emergency Management for the Enterprise Emergency Operations at HCA Healthcare, assuming a pivotal role in advancing the organization's mission. With a focus on strategic preparedness, Sara oversees the development of comprehensive emergency plans, playbooks, exercises, and training initiatives as well as the Enterprise Response Teams program. She provides operational leadership and coordination within the Enterprise Emergency Operations Center, ensuring a seamless response to critical incidents.
Possessing nearly two decades of experience in healthcare leadership and federal emergency preparedness, Sara brings a wealth of expertise to her role. Her background encompasses a diverse range of disciplines, including incident management technology, public health, and labor & delivery nursing. Notably, she has demonstrated proficiency in metrics and strategy development, with a specialized focus on infectious diseases, natural disasters, and regional preparedness systems.
Prior to her tenure at HCA, Sara held significant positions within the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Administration for Strategic Preparedness and Response (ASPR). In these roles, she spearheaded hospital preparedness initiatives and provided oversight of healthcare readiness across Federal Regional VIII, encompassing Colorado, Montana, North Dakota, South Dakota, Utah, and Wyoming.
Sara earned her Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) in public health nursing from the University of Colorado, complemented by a Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) and Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) from the University of Florida.
Ahead of the Surge: A Decade of New York City's Mass Casualty Incident Alerting Program
Wednesday, February 24, 2027 | 3:40 - 4:30pm
Since 2016, GNYHA and the Fire Department of the City of New York (FDNY) have collaborated on the Mass Casualty Incident (MCI) Alerting Program, providing early warning to New York City hospitals for potential patient surges to emergency departments (EDs). In this presentation, participants will learn about the development and implementation of the NYC MCI Alerting Program for hospitals, its important role in mass casualty incidents, and the collaborative effort taken with FDNY, hospitals, and NYC Emergency Management to develop and sustain a successful program. Participants will also learn about the continuous and iterative improvement of this program, accomplished through incident review and regular updating of the plan. Participants will also learn about the real-world applicability of the program through case studies focused on the June 2025 Park Avenue Shooting and the March 2026 Flight 8646 plane crash at LaGuardia Airport – major incidents proving this program’s value and success. Participants will also learn about challenges and continued areas for improvement to ensure patients receive the best care during MCIs.
Nicole Ziogas, MPH
Assistant Director, Emergency Preparedness and Response, Greater New York Hospital Association
Andrew Dahl
Vice President, Emergency Management and Operational Resilience, Greater New York Hospital Association
Nicole Ziogas, MPH
Nicole Ziogas is the Assistant Director on the emergency preparedness team at the Greater New York Hospital Association. Within her role, she is responsible for a wide range of emergency preparedness and response projects and activities including cyber preparedness and MCI activities. Prior to joining GNYHA, she worked with the NYC DOHMH in the Office of Emergency Preparedness and Response. Nicole holds a dual degree BA in Biology and Psychology from the State University of New York at New Paltz and an MPH from the City University of New York Graduate School for Public Health and Health Policy.
Andrew Dahl
Andrew Dahl is the Vice President, Emergency Management and Operational Resilience at the Greater New York Hospital Association (GNYHA). In this role, Andrew works with GNYHA’s 160 hospital and health system members on issues related to emergency care, security, and emergency preparedness, providing advocacy, coordinating with government partners, and fostering opportunities to share best practices and lessons learned. Prior to joining GNYHA, Andrew worked in emergency management at NYU Langone Health and for the City of Philadelphia. He earned a BS in Public Health from Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey and an MPA from New York University.
Coordinating Complexity: Multi-Agency Transport Planning for the MV Hondius Hantavirus Repatriation Mission
Wednesday, February 24, 2027 | 3:40 - 4:30pm
This presentation will review the planning, coordination, and execution of relevant transports that occurred to support the Administration for Strategic Preparedness and Response (ASPR's) mission to move individuals potentially exposed to hantavirus from the Canary Islands to the National Quarantine Unit (NQU) in Omaha, Nebraska. Participants will gain insight into the collaborative efforts between, the Region 7 Regional Emerging Special Pathogen Treatment Center (RESPTC), federal partners, state and local agencies, and transportation stakeholders. Special emphasis will be placed on stakeholder engagement, movement planning from Eppley Airfield to the NQU, contingency development, operational challenges, and lessons learned that can inform future responses to domestic and international public health emergencies.
Jackson Gruber, BS
Program Manager, Nebraska Medicine
Benjamin Tysor, NRP
Paramedic, Omaha Fire & Rescue Department
Jackson Gruber, BS
Jackson Gruber is a healthcare emergency preparedness professional focused on high-consequence infectious disease preparedness, planning, and response. As the Regional Emerging Special Pathogens Program Manager for HHS Region VII, he leads regional coordination with public health agencies, hospitals, and EMS partners to strengthen healthcare system readiness for high-consequence infectious diseases. Jackson has been with Nebraska Medicine since 2017 and previously worked clinically in the Emergency Department and the COVID Intensive Care Unit during the early stages of the pandemic. He also serves as Co-Chair of the Emergency Management Workgroup for the National Emerging Special Pathogens Training and Education Center (NETEC), supporting national collaboration and best practices in healthcare emergency preparedness.
Benjamin Tysor, NRP
Captain Benjamin Tysor is a Paramedic with the Omaha Fire & Rescue Department in Nebraska, and has more than 23 years of experience responding to both urban and rural 911 fire and EMS calls. In 2014 and 2015, he was directly involved in the transport of patients with the Ebola virus disease who were repatriated to the United States and transferred to the Nebraska Biocontainment Unit, supporting some of the nation’s earliest high-risk infectious disease transport operations. This work contributed to the further development and refinement of high-level biosafety transport operations during a critical period in U.S. emergency response. Ben currently leads the Omaha Fire Department’s High Consequence Infectious Disease (HCID) Transport Team and provides instruction nationwide through the National Emerging Special Pathogens Training and Education Center (NETEC) regarding the safe transport of patients with high-consequence infectious diseases. His experience spans operational response, team leadership, and education focused on protecting patients, responders, and healthcare systems during highly infectious events.